So you’ve done your homework, and you’ve realized that dental implants are the best tooth replacements available with unrivaled durability and appearance. However, you have doubts – will my body have an allergic reaction? You are not sure how you will react to the titanium and other trace metals.

An allergy is the body’s defensive response against any substance perceived as a threat. Allergic reactions can range from a mild irritation or rash to more severe reactions up to and including death.

A person can be allergic to any substance, including metals. An estimated 17% of women and 3% of men are allergic to nickel, while 1-3% of the general population to cobalt and chromium. Most allergic reactions occur in contact with consumer products, though occasionally with metal medical devices or prosthetics, including certain cardiac stents and hip or knee replacements.

There are also rare cases of reactions to metal fillings, also known as dental amalgam. Amalgam is comprised of a few metals – mainly mercury with traces of tin, copper, and silver. Dental amalgam has been used for decades without complications for the vast majority of patients. Amalgam has steadily declined in use as tooth-colored composite resins have become more popular.

Dental implants are made of titanium alloy, a biocompatible compound that not only gets along with the immune system, but also encourages bone growth as it is osteophilic. Both of these attributes make titanium a rare trigger for allergies even people with known metal allergies.

Though rare, implant reactions do occur at a rate of 0.6%, meaning it is still important to discuss any metal allergies you may have with your dentist or prosthodontist during your initial consultation. For more information or to schedule a consultation with our prosthodontist please call 305.935.6066 or visit http://www.tmprosthodontics.com/